Trees are a Pretty Big Deal

Water Rocks! LOVES trees! In fact, we love them so much that we created a three-part music video series all about trees! The TREElogy explores how truly "marvelous, magnificent, magical, and amazing" trees are! We are excited to share our tree love with all of you!

Just why does Water Rocks! think trees are so awesome? Trees are water quality champions because of the many jobs they perform that significantly improve our water resources. Trees help improve water quality by filtering and cleaning water, protecting our valuable soil from erosion, improving soil health, reducing and slowing runoff, stabilizing streambanks, trapping pollutants, decreasing flooding, and improving aquatic habitats for wildlife.

Sadly, though, trees are disappearing in Iowa. According to an article published in the Des Moines Register in July 2016, the state lost 114 million trees between 2010 and 2015. This is important to note because trees are a vital part of vegetative buffers that are used to separate farmland from streams and rivers. Buffers play an important role in improving water quality. The buffers filter sediment and soak up water and nutrients before they can make their way to the nearest waterbody.

“To exist as a nation, to prosper as a state, to live as a people, we must have trees.”― Theodore Roosevelt

Water Rocks! brings awareness to the importance of trees through the TREElogy video series. The videos use catchy tunes and animation to teach kids about trees. Kids and adults alike will appreciate the educational value of the videos. You can watch the entire TREElogy on the Water Rocks! YouTube channel.We also have free downloadable enhanced learning activities to go along with the videos!

Part I of the series, “Trees Short, Trees Tall,” encourages watchers to discover the beauty of trees throughout the changing seasons, the importance of trees as a natural resource, and to be inspired toward a deeper appreciation of the roles that trees play in the environment around us.

Part II of the series, “Let’s Go Plant a Tree,” follows elementary students Zach and Naomi while they learn all about the proper steps to plant and care for a tree, with help from Leslie Berckes of Trees Forever. You’ll never forget the six steps of tree planting once you have heard this catchy tune!

Part III of the series, “Trees are a Pretty Big Deal,” welcomes you to join siblings Niko and Naomi on their walk as they discover all of the amazingness that trees have to to offer. They find out that trees are marvelous, magnificent, magical, and amazing!

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.”-Henry David Thoreau

Now that you have learned of the many ways in which trees are a pretty big deal, get out there and plant a tree, give a tree a hug, and tell others about how awesome they are! Don’t forget Arbor Day is on April 28. Find out ways to celebrate Arbor Day here.